JP3018741B2 - Digital copier - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital copying machine, and more particularly to a digital copying machine having a normal copying function and a search function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an apparatus that reads image data with an image input device, stores the image data, and can search for the image data,
Many are being developed. One example is an optical file device.

In these apparatuses, in order to make stored data searchable, an identification number or a keyword for search is added by various means when or after inputting image data. For example, when inputting a document, using a keyboard input, a mark sheet,
An identification number and a keyword are input by a CR (optical character recognition device) or the like.

As a gazette that discloses such a technique,
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-228268, Japanese Patent Publication No.
JP-A-15097 and JP-A-2-239372.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the identification number, keyword, and the like for search must be input by an operation different from image data input, and the operability is poor. was there.

[0006] Further, consideration for speeding up retrieval and consideration for keeping confidentiality of accumulated data have not been sufficiently taken.

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital copying apparatus which eliminates the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and can perform copying and creation of searchable data with a simple operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital copying apparatus capable of performing a quick search.

Another object is to provide a digital copying apparatus capable of keeping stored data confidential.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image data read from an image input unit is converted into an electric digital signal and then printed out by a printing unit. A digital storage device storing a copy condition and time information input from an operation instructing unit as a copy information record, and storing compressed data of the image data in association with the copy information record; An operation button for instructing a search and re-output of, and a display unit for displaying a re-outputtable list created based on data read from the data storage unit when the operation button is operated, It is characterized in that it comprises a selection means for selecting desired image data on the display unit, and an image output unit for printing out the selected image data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital copying apparatus according to the first aspect, the data storage unit stores identification information of an operator or a group to which the operator belongs, and the display unit is used when searching and re-outputting. Is characterized in that a re-outputtable list of image data that matches the input identification information is displayed.

Further, the invention of claim 4 provides the above-mentioned claim 1.
Wherein the digital copying machine comprises: operating means for selecting whether or not to display the selected image data on an image display unit; and means for updating a page of the image data displayed on the image display unit. There is a feature.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the copying condition is entered into the copy information record, and the original data is entered only by reading the original data from the image input unit by inputting the copying conditions from the operation instructing unit. It can be read in association with the copy information record. By instructing search and re-output, a re-output list can be displayed on the display unit, and desired image data can be selected from the list and printed out.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since a re-outputtable list of image data that matches the identification information is displayed, the confidentiality of the data stored in the data storage unit can be maintained.

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the selected image data can be displayed on the image display unit, so that erroneous output of search re-output can be prevented.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, an outline of the hardware configuration of the digital copying apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a digital image input unit comprising a scanner or the like using a CCD sensor or the like; 12, a memory; a data processing / control unit for processing digital data and controlling peripheral devices by a CPU; An image output unit that prints an image on paper made of a laser beam printer or the like.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a data storage unit for storing and storing data, and is composed of, for example, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a remote disk connected to a device connected to a network. An operation instructing unit 15 displays operation information and gives instructions to the operator.

As shown in FIG. 3, one example of the operation instructing section 15 is a state display section composed of liquid crystal, plasma, EL, LED, or the like, and an operation button mainly composed of numeric keys such as a micro switch and a touch panel. It is composed of

Reference numeral 16 denotes an image display device for displaying an image copied in the past in a bit map.
For example, it is composed of a liquid crystal, a plasma display panel, or the like having the number of pixels (100 × 160 pixels or more) suitable for displaying an image. Note that the image display device 16 is not an essential component of the present invention, and may be deleted as necessary.

A keyboard, a CRT display, and a pointing device such as a mouse may be connected instead of the operation instructing section 15 and the image display device 16.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a data communication unit, which can be connected from the data communication unit 17 to a trunk line such as Ethernet via a transmission line (not shown) and a connector such as a transceiver.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be sequentially described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(1) Operation Start and Process Setting When an operator performs an original copy operation using the digital copying apparatus of the present embodiment, as in a normal copying machine, FIG.
The user designates copy conditions such as the number of copies, enlargement / reduction ratio, selection of output paper size, collation method, and selection of ADF (automatic document feeder) function using the operation panel shown in (1) (step S1). .

When using the re-output function of this embodiment, in order to instruct that the copy contents be recorded and left,
Turn on the record button. The recording button is not an essential component, and the content of the copy may be always recorded and left without providing the recording button.

Next, the operator sets the document to be copied on the image input unit 11 or the ADF attached thereto, and turns on the start button (step S).
2). Thus, reading of the document is started.

(2) Reading and accumulating document data First, the first document is read. The read document information is compressed by the data processing unit 12 (step S
4). The compressed document information data is stored in the data storage unit 14.
Is stored as an image record together with header information such as a page number (step S5).

Subsequently, an operation of confirming the remaining storage capacity of the data storage unit 14 and securing the capacity is performed (step S).
6).

If the capacity of the data storage unit 14 is expected to be insufficient, the registration image deletion process described in (4) is repeated until a predetermined capacity is secured in the data storage unit 14. Then, a series of previously input image records that are older in time are deleted to prepare for the next input.

Steps S2 to S6 are repeated for the number of originals. When a series of document input processing is completed in this way, the determination in step S3 becomes affirmative, and the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the data storage unit 1
In the copy information record No. 4, information on the copy process designated by the operator in step S1 and clock information obtained from the data processing / control unit 12 are stored.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the copy information record and the image record. The copy information record includes items such as an output time, the number of documents, the number of output copies,..., And one record is added each time a series of document input processing is completed. At the same time, a pointer indicating the stored compressed image data position is recorded. In FIG. 6, the pointer of the first page is recorded in the copy information record. However, the pointer of the last page may be recorded.

Each page of the series of compressed original images is
The header of the compressed data has a pointer for recording the position of the page image data immediately before or immediately after the page number, the output completion time, and the page number.

Next, the process proceeds to step S8 in FIG. 4, and it is determined whether or not an instruction for an electronic collation has been given.

(3) Output of Copy Image If there is no instruction of the electronic collation (No at Step S8), the process proceeds to Step S9, and the operation of reading out the compressed image data from the data storage unit 14 is performed. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S11, where an operation of expanding the compressed image data is performed. Next, the process proceeds to step S12, and processing for enlarging or reducing the size to the size instructed by the operator is performed. Next, the process proceeds to step S13, where the number of copies specified by the operator is printed on paper and output.

The above operation is performed for all of a series of input documents. When the processing for all of the series of input documents is completed, the determination in step S10 becomes affirmative, and the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, the output time fields of the copy information record created this time and the output time fields of the header parts of all the image records containing the image data output this time are stored in the data storage unit 14. Update with time (year / month / day / hour / minute / second).

On the other hand, when there is an electronic collation (step S
If the answer is 8), the process proceeds to step S15 in FIG. 5, and the operation of reading the compressed image data from the data storage unit 14 is performed. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S17, in which the operation of expanding the compressed image data is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S18, in which a process of enlarging or reducing the size to the size instructed by the operator is performed.

In step S19, an image is printed out. If it is determined in step S16 that reading of all pages of the document has been completed, the flow advances to step S20 to repeat the output for the designated number of copies. It is determined whether or not the determination has been made. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step S15 and the above-described operation is repeated.

On the other hand, if the judgment in the step S20 is affirmative, the process proceeds to a step S21, where the step S14 is executed.
The same operation as described above is performed.

(4) Deletion Processing of Registered Image The copy information record is recorded in order of output completion time (year, month, day, hour, minute, second). Therefore, in order to search for unnecessary images for deletion, image data having the same time as the output completion time of the header part of the compressed data indicated by the pointer of the first record is to be deleted, and a series of image records, Delete the copy information records in order.

If the output completion time of the header part of the copy information record differs from that of the header of the image record indicated by the pointer, the corresponding image record has been output more recently. The series of image records are not deleted, only the copy information record is deleted, and the process proceeds to the next data to be deleted.

(5) Retrieval and Reoutput Processing Next, the operation of retrieving and retrieving an image according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The operation of retrieving and outputting an image is started by the operator pressing a retrieval button (see FIG. 2) first (step S1). When the search button is pressed, a record of the most recent copy processing, that is, a re-outputtable list is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation instruction unit 15 or the CRT display of the image display unit 16 (step S).
2).

FIG. 8 shows an example of the re-outputtable list displayed on the liquid crystal display, and FIG. 9 shows an example displayed on the CRT display. When displaying on a relatively small display such as a liquid crystal display, 5 to 5
Since only about ten items can be displayed, it is possible to scroll back and forth by using the “+” and “−” buttons and the like. CRT
Even when the data is displayed on the display, if there is data that cannot be displayed at one time, the user can scroll to see all the data.

Next, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the cancel button (C button) has been pressed. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S4, where the operator uses a numeric keypad or the like. To select re-output data.

When a document image for re-output is selected, the previous output processing content is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation instructing section 15 (step S5). That is, the output processing contents such as the paper size, the number of copies, and the magnification, which were output last time, are read from the data storage unit 14 and displayed.

If there is an error in the selection of the re-output data in step S4, the C button is pressed in step S6, and the selection is canceled. When the determination in step S6 is negative, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the operator changes the output processing contents. For example,
Change the paper size, number of copies, magnification, etc. If there is no change, this step can be skipped as a matter of course.

In step S8, when there is an error in the change in step S7, the C button is pressed, and the process returns to step S5.

When the C button has not been pressed in step S8, the process proceeds to step S9, and the operator presses the start button. Then, the process proceeds to step S10, where information relating to the current copy processing is recorded and stored in the copy information record.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not an instruction for electronic collation has been issued. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S9 in FIG. On the other hand, when the judgment is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S15 in FIG. After that,
Since the operation is the same as the normal copying operation described above, the description is omitted.

After the re-output, the document image can be deleted from the data storage unit 14. In this case, the operation from step S1 in FIG. 7 may be performed without pressing the recording button.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, copying and retrieving data that can be searched are performed by a simple operation in which the operator instructs copying conditions, sets a document on the reading device, and presses the start button. Can be created. In addition, the operator can press the search button to select re-output data from the re-outputtable list displayed, and then press the start button to output the searched image data. The image data copied by the digital copying apparatus can be effectively used.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment has a problem in terms of maintaining confidentiality because anyone can execute the search and re-output process in the above-described embodiment. The second embodiment addresses this problem.

When the operator wants to keep the original document to be copied confidential, the I in the operation instruction unit 15 (see FIG. 2)
After pressing the D button, the user enters his / her identification number using the numeric keypad. This identification number can be assigned individually,
Alternatively, it may be assigned to each group such as section or section.

The subsequent operation is performed in the same manner as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, the operator gives instructions regarding copy contents, such as the number of copies, the ratio of enlargement / reduction, selection of output paper size, collation method, and selection of ADF (automatic document feeder) function. Or the ADF attached thereto, and then press the start button.

Then, the image data of the document is compressed and stored in the data storage unit 14. Subsequently, information on the copying process is stored in the copy information record together with the identification number.

In the case of performing the search and re-output, the operator presses the ID button of the operation instructing section 15 and inputs his / her own identification number with the ten-key buttons. Instruction for re-output. Then, the re-output data corresponding to the identification number is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation instruction unit 15 or the image display unit 1.
6 is displayed on the CRT display.

Then, when the operator operates in step S4 of FIG. 7, that is, selects desired data from the re-output data, the previous output processing content is set on the display as described above. The following operation is performed in step S in FIG.
Since the operation is the same as the operation in and after step 6, the description is omitted.

In the above description, the identification number is entered using the numeric keypad. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the device has an alphabet or kana character key, the name, You may make it input a nickname, a password, etc. If the device has a card throttle, the operator may be identified by using a magnetic card or IC card which is also used as an employee ID card, a student ID card, and an association ID card. In place of the card, a magnetic card or IC card for managing charge information of a copy generally used in a normal copying machine or the like may be used. Further, the operator may be identified by voice, fingerprint, bill or the like.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, when the search button is pressed in the first embodiment, a search and re-output operation is started, and the liquid crystal display of the operation instruction unit 15 or the CRT display of the image display unit 16 is used as shown in FIG. Although the record of the copying process as shown, that is, the re-outputtable list is displayed, in the first embodiment, the retrieved document image is not displayed. The third embodiment is characterized in that the image data to be re-outputted is displayed at the time of re-outputting the search, the re-output contents can be confirmed, and erroneous output can be prevented.

In this embodiment, when the display key (see FIG. 3) of the operation instructing section 15 is pressed after any one of the steps S4, S5 and S8 in FIG. 7, the operation of image display is started. This operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

If the display key is pressed after any of steps S4, S5 or S8 in FIG. 7 (Yes at step S31), the process proceeds to step S32, where the first page to be searched is set to the first page. I do. Next, by following the pointer to the image data on the copy information record being selected, the image record of the first page is searched from the data storage unit 14 (step S33). Then, the data processing unit 1
The compressed image data is transferred to the memory of 2.

The data processing section 12 expands the compressed image data (step S34), and then reduces the image data according to the number of display pixels of the connected image display section 16 (step S35). Since the purpose of the image display of the present embodiment is to prevent an error when selecting a re-output image, it is only necessary to be able to see an outline of the recorded image data, and the number of display pixels of the image display unit 16 may be small. . For this reason, it is preferable that the reduction process be a process of giving priority to white removal that leaves a thin line or the like as much as possible.

When the reduction process is performed, the process proceeds to step S36, where the reduced image data is displayed on the image display unit 16. An example of the display is shown in FIG.

As is clear from FIG. 11, the image display unit 1
6, the image data of the first page is displayed, and in the lower part, the next screen, the previous screen, the next page, the previous page, the screen copy,
A function key such as cancel is displayed. Therefore, by operating these function keys, the image can be displayed on the image display unit 16.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S37, wherein it is determined whether or not the screen copy function key is operated.
When the function key is operated, the process proceeds to step S39, and the content of the previous output process is displayed on the operation instruction unit 15. Next, the operator changes the output processing content if necessary. For example, the output processing contents such as the paper size, the number of copies, and the magnification are changed.

In step S41, it is determined whether or not a cancel operation has been performed. If the cancel operation has been performed (step S41 is affirmative), the process returns to step S37 to wait for operation of the screen copy function key. State. On the other hand, when the start button is pressed without performing the cancel operation (step S42), the process proceeds to step S43, and the displayed image data is output for the set number of copies. Thereafter, the process returns to the step S37 to wait for the operation of the screen copy function key.

Next, when the cancel function key is operated in step S38, the process returns to the original step in FIG. For example, if the display key (see FIG. 2) of the operation instructing unit 15 is pressed when the process of step S4 is performed, and the image display operation starts, the process returns to step S4. If the display key of the operation instructing unit 15 is pressed when the process of step S5 is performed and the image display operation starts, the process returns to step S5.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, after displaying and confirming the image data, it is possible to re-output the image data, thereby preventing an error in selecting an image. Further, by performing the screen copy operation, the required number of copies of the image data displayed on the image display unit 16 can be copied.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the functions of the present invention. In the drawing, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same or equivalent, and the reference numerals with the lowercase letters indicate the functions of the reference numerals without the reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 15a denotes a copy condition instructing unit for instructing the number of copies, enlargement / reduction ratio, selection of output paper size, collation method, and selection of ADF (automatic document feeder) function. It is an instruction unit. The conditions specified by the copy condition specifying unit 15a are stored in the copy information record of the data storage unit 14 together with the time information from the clock unit 12b.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an image input unit for reading document information. The read document information is compressed by the compression unit 12a,
The data is stored in the data storage unit 14 in association with the copy information record. Next, the document information is expanded by the expansion unit 12d, and is expanded or reduced by the expansion / reduction unit 12e. Then, printing is performed on a sheet by a printing unit.

The above is the function representing the copying operation. When the copy information record is full, the deletion processing unit 12c deletes the oldest one.

Next, when performing the search re-output processing, the search re-output starting unit 15b is operated. Then, the data reading unit 12f reads the copy information record in the data storage unit 14. The read data is edited into a re-outputtable list format by the re-outputtable list creation unit 12g and displayed on the image display unit 16a.

Therefore, the search re-output selection section 15c selects the search re-output data on the image display section. Since this selection is linked with the data selection of the data storage unit 14, the selected data is read from the data storage unit 14, and is output from the printing unit via the decompression unit 12d and the enlargement / reduction unit 12e. You.

When the identification number is input from the identification number input section 15d when operating the search / re-output start section 15b, the data reading section 12f selects and reads only the data to be collated with the identification number. , Can be kept confidential.

Next, when the display key 15e is pressed when the search / reoutput data is selected from the re-outputtable list, the image data extraction unit 12h selects the image data and displays it on the image display unit 16a. As a result, the operator can check the re-output contents, and reduce erroneous outputs.

The display of the image display unit 16a can be controlled by the function of the control unit 16b, such as scrolling and screen copying.

[0079]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image data and the copy conditions read from the image input unit can be easily stored in the copy information record. Then there is the effect that it can be searched and re-output.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, there is an effect that the confidentiality of the data stored in the copy information record can be maintained.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, since the data to be retrieved and re-outputted can be confirmed on the display, there is an effect that there is no erroneous output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic functional block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation instruction unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a copying operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an internal structure of data stored in a data storage unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example displayed on an operation unit display screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another display example displayed on the operation unit display screen.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a search screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 image input unit, 12 data processing / control unit, 13
Image output unit, 14 data storage unit, 15 operation instruction unit,
16 image display unit, 17 data communication unit

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A digital copying apparatus in which image data read from an image input unit is converted into an electric digital signal and then printed out by a printing unit. Is stored as a copy information record, and a data storage unit for storing the compressed data of the image data in association with the copy information record; an operation button for instructing a search and re-output of an image; A display unit for displaying a re-outputtable list created based on the data read from the data storage unit, a selecting unit for selecting desired image data on the display unit, and a selected image. A digital copying apparatus comprising: an image output unit that prints out data. 2. The digital copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when image data to be re-output is selected by said selection means, means for displaying a previous output processing content, and changing the displayed output processing content. And a means for performing the following. 3. The digital copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data storage unit stores identification information of an operator or a group to which the operator belongs, and at the time of retrieval and re-output, the display unit displays
A digital copying apparatus characterized by displaying a re-outputtable list of image data that matches input identification information. 4. The digital copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation means for selecting whether or not to display the selected image data on an image display unit; A digital copying apparatus comprising: means for updating a page so that re-output contents can be confirmed. 5. The digital copying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image data displayed on the image display unit is an arbitrary number,
A digital copying apparatus characterized in that a screen can be copied.